Life Through Lucylastica's Lense...

All opinions belong to someone else.

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Patterson) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:06:00 +0000

These days I have an opinion about most things, but it's not my own.

The more writing jobs I pick up, the more I find myself emerged in a story or character that leads me to adopt their stance, their viewpoint, their outrage at a particular situation; a situation that probably wouldn't have bothered me - the real me - one iota previously.

Not that I'm complaining. I mean to actually be paid to write is a dream come true for me. I simple find it takes over my life as I live, breathe and dream the character.

My latest writing job is for Awesix Media's new on-line social opera 'Seven Sisters'. In a nutshell, it's a soap opera that plays out between five characters and is based entirely on-line via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and character blogs. I'd love to know what you think of the concept and of course if you choose to follow and engage with the characters, then that would be fantastic!

Excitement of the new job aside, a leisure day - despite being rare - is generally spent with Hubby bemoaning the fact that I need to chill and remember what 'I' like. I'm not quite sure how to do this. Past life regression therapy perhaps?

How do you un-wind? Can you share any top tips to help me 'find myself' again?

mwah x

Miss Behave!

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Patterson) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:14:00 +0000

I've never really been a wild child - well, not for a few years now anyway - but I've never really done as I am told either. I've always been the type to find my own path and make my own mistakes. The same can be said of the clothes I choose to wear and the accessories I pick.

That said, if ever there was an on-line boutique with a name that appealed to me it is Love From MisBehave.
Having recently purchased some great unisex slogan t-shirts from Illegal Art via the site I had to sneak a peek at their jewellery and accessories pages - WOW!

Spying some unique, quirky, cheap and cheerful, fashion forward pieces I made a mental note to visit again after (Hubby's!) pay day and make the necessary purchases. Being the social media whore that I am I also started following them on Twitter and Instagram; as I do all my favourite indie brands because it is a great way to find out about their latest deals and offers - Ever thrifty!

It was on Twitter that I then found out about their new shopping concept; think Glossy Box but for costume jewellery.

*Drum roll please*

Let me introduce you to Behave Box:

Behave Box - cutely packaged.

Behave Box - un-cutely ripped open!

As with Glossy Box you sign up to a monthly subscription and then sit back and await the arrival of your box. Each month will contain a variety of new and exciting pieces catered to the tastes that you specify to Allie - the boutique owner - before you get sent your first box. Oh...did I mention it arrives in the 3rd week of each month so makes a fabulous way to brighten up that usually long dismal week before pay day?!

Here are a few of my fave pieces from the review box Allie sent me, which she of course catered to the likes/dislikes I had already stipulated.

Stag Ear-rings: Perfect for a
trip to the local country pub

The Seven Dwarves:
Love this!

My favourite piece:
Angel Wings ring

Of course the eagle eyed amongst you will have noticed there was also a free lollipop. There really is nothing to dislike, so get ordering yours today. I know that after you receive your first box, you'll thank me for the recommendation.

You're welcome!

mwah x

Gran.

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Patterson) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:26:00 +0000

Gran.

Home baking; chocolate cake,
Chasing us up the apples and pairs.

Jam making; gooseberry jelly,
Watching 'Fresh Fields' after Brownies.

Galley frothy coffees; with cheese scones,
Shopping for yet another skirt.

Knitting us jumpers; pandas to match,
Re-assuring all with only a smile.

Eastenders; Sunday omnibus,
Sharing gossip after the credits.

Hairdressers Thursday; wash and set,
Shining light on all who met her.
Shining light. Always.

mwah x

Gluten free blog off - cook off!

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Patterson) — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:43:00 +0000

I am a great believer in eating food that is as fresh and as local as possible. As such I do a lot of cooking from scratch. I find that not only is this therapeutic, it's actually usually cheaper - and of course healthier - than buying pre-prepared, processed food.

I have a regular veg box delivered and I shop with local producers wherever possible, meaning that the majority of my food comes from a 25 mile radius; reducing food miles, allowing us to eat seasonally and support the local economy.

That said, it is sometimes a struggle to source locally the fresh herbs and spices that are the life blood of my kitchen. In the past I have tried to keep a selection of potted herbs on the windowsill, but inevitably not all of these last long, so I resort to a keeping a good stock of dried herbs and supplementing these with fresh whenever practical.

You can therefore imagine my delight when I was recently sent some fresh herb and spice mix goodies from Gourmet Garden in order to take part in their 'Blog Off, Cook Off' challenge. The herbs and various spice blends come in handy tubes and stay fresh in your fridge for a much longer period than 'normal' fresh herbs. I was delighted to discover that they are all gluten free too, as my Mum follows a gluten free diet and is staying with us for Christmas.

With that in mind I decided to put them to the test and whip up a gluten free version of a winter favourite in our house; chilli-con-carne, served with rustic potato wedges and a decadent dollop of creme fraiche.

Ingredients:
(This easily serves 3 - 4 hungry people.)

1 finely chopped onion
500g minced meat - You can substitute this for Quorn mince to make the dish suitable for vegetarians.
1/2 finely chopped green bell pepper
1 tin chopped plum tomatoes
1 tin kidney beans
2 teaspoons dried cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 teaspoons Gourmet Garden crushed chilli - Add more or less accordingly to how fiery you like your chilli.
1 teaspoon Gourmet Garden crushed garlic
1 teaspoon Gourmet Garden crushed coriander
Couple of pinches of salt
Couple of pinches of ground black pepper
1 medium/large potato per person.

Method:

Add the onion and bell pepper to a large frying pan with a tablespoon full of water and sweat gently over a medium heat. You do not want to brown them, just to soften them. I use water at this point instead of oil as there is always plenty of natural fat comes out of the minced meat once you add it.

Add the mince meat and all of the dried and Gourmet Garden herbs and spicess, stir well and allow the mince to brown for a few minutes.

Add the chopped plum tomatoes and kidney beans.

Add a couple of pinches of salt and pepper, according to your own personal taste.

Turn down the heat and simmer gently for a few minutes to ensure the ingredients have time to infuse their tastes - and of course for your kitchen to start to smell delicious - After all we eat with all of our senses!

Turn off the heat and leave in the pan to 'develop' whilst you prepare your rustic potato wedges.

Chop your potatoes into wedge shapes, without peeling them. All the goodness (and rustic-ness) is in the skin.

Add to an oven tray and drizzle with just enough oil and ensure they are coated and therefore won't stick.

Cook on 180 degrees C for approx half an hour or until cooked, turning the heat up to 200 degrees C for the last 5 minutes or so to crisp them up.

When you turn up the heat on the wedges, turn the heat back on below your chilli and warm gently.

Serve!

Pile the chilli into a big serving bowl and 'garnish' with a dollop of creme fraiche. Place the wedges into a separate bowl, then place both bowls in the centre of the table for everyone to just dive in; makes for a really sociable dinnertime.

Enjoy!

At this stage I'd love to have pictures of the finished product for you...but I just wasn't quick enough as between my setting the table and grabbing my camera it had been well and truly dived into and demolished! Still, that's the sign of a family favourite...right?

If you try this recipe or have any of your own family favourites you intend to now try with Gourmet Garden herbs and spice mixes, I'd love to hear from you.

mwah x

Inspiring Bloggers

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Patterson) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 16:45:00 +0000

I have to start by saying that I do not class myself to be inspiring. Indeed, I am always astounded that anyone takes the time to visit, read and comment on my blog, let alone take time out of their busy days to commend what I do here, but that is exactly what happened recently when the lovely ladies that are Janine and Muriel both nominated me for an 'Inspiring Blogger' award.

I now have to follow the rules - a first for me - and bestow the honour to other bloggers. So here they are; the rules:

Share 7 of your favourite sayings, words or phrases.

Reveal 7 little known facts about yourself.

Nominate 7 other bloggers for the award.

So here goes!

Having recently moved to Suffolk from Durham (I keep saying recently, but it's actually nearly 2 years ago now - time flies!) I often find myself on the receiving end of some confused looks and blank faces as I use terms and phrases most associated with the North of England; phrases that don't translate to the Suffolk vernacular, so to be given the opportunity to share some of these with you is quite fun.

1 - Flat as a witch's tit.
A phrase that Hubby uses regularly to describe everything from the atmosphere of a party, to the tyres on
the car.

2 - You're only as old as the man you feel.
Good advice for those of you lucky enough to have bagged yourself a toy boy, but for me...very ageing!

3 - Shy bairns get no kett.
Perhaps this is the phrase that needs most translation: Shy children get no sweeties.

4 - Give people just enough rope to hang themselves with; the smart ones won't.
Recent events have lead me to believe this is true and a damn good mantra for life.

5 - Blancmange.
Not sure why. I just think it is one of the most amusing words in the English language.

6 - Baps.
Similar reasons to the above, but also because I am still a giggly smutty child at heart.

7 - Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world.
Needs no explanation.

The problem I now have is in thinking of 7 little-known facts about myself. I guess when you write a personal blog, you have already given away most of your 'secrets', but I'll try:

1 - I'm an over-analyser. Not so much a worrier, just one of those people who pays too much thought to
what other people think of me.

2 - I'm at a cross roads in my life. I actually know less what I want to do with my life now than I did when I
was younger.

3 - When I was a child I wanted to be a journalist. These days I'm just grateful to make a £ or 2 here and
there from my writing.

4 - Narrow minded people annoy me.

5 - I love tradition and am a sucker for the simpler ways of days gone by. I do however embrace change as
a catalyst for good.

6 - I am lazy. There, I've said it; I'm a hard worker, but once outside of work there are days when I have to
be prised away from the couch.

7 - I'm not as confident as people think I am.

Now to the bloggers who inspire me...or at least those who haven't already been nominated:

Meredith and Gwyneth

Penny Golightly

Blonde on a Budget

Caleigh

Fleet Street Fox

Make do and Mend

Yes, I can count. I know that is only 6, but I'm leaving the 7th to you.
Which blog do you find inspiring?

mwah x

Daxon

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Patterson) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 14:20:00 +0000

Let's just get straight to the point here: I don't consider myself to be a fashion blogger. Neither do I consider myself to be a food blogger or a lifestyle blogger. You get my gist? I struggle when people want to pigeon hole my blog into a particular genre as I blog about what I want to, when I want to.

That said, I regularly cover the topics of fashion and food and this blog is about my life and therefore my lifestyle, so I'm always happy to be approached to be part of a blogging network if I think it the content of that network is of interest to me and/or my readers.

This morning I was contacted by the lovely people at Daxon to become part of their VIP Fashion Bloggers network, so of course I had a good look at their website and decided to accept. For those of you who don't know, Daxon are a well established home shopping company who specialise in ensuring women of all shapes and sizes can find clothing that actually fits. I have to say from the off that their range is not high fashion, but it does give access to the kind of stylish and flattering basic pieces that ever wardrobe needs; regardless of size or age.

At first glance, these are a couple of my current favourite pieces:

What can I say? I'm all about the knitwear at this time of year!

I'd love to know what your favourite pieces are after you've had the chance to take a look at their site.

mwah x

Living la vida lo-fi!

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Patterson) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:20:00 +0000

Recently I read an article in The Mail on Sunday that really spoke to me. The very fact that I am blogging about it now is somewhat of an oxymoron. The irony is not lost on me, I promise you.

The article discussed the current fascination with all things social media related; our constant need to tweet and be re-tweeted, our demand for more and more 'likers' for our Facebook pages and the relentless 24/7 interaction forced upon us by the expectations of a technology obsessed culture. It also gave insight into the lives of several women who had chosen to ignore the current trend to live their lives on line and visible to a world of both 'virtual' strangers and virtual strangers. (Pun intended.)

I tweet. I Facebook. I blog. Therefore I am. Whilst I am sure that is not entirely what Descartes intended, it does seem that these days a person is not allowed to simply think and therefore be. They have to tweet that thought and await a certain minimal number of re-tweets to validate their point.

It is exhausting. I am exhausted by it. So the lives of the women in the article seemed like a breath of fresh air to me. None of them have to worry that something they post in a status update will offend someone or add friction to a situation that it actually has nothing to do with. None of them allow themselves to be wound up by the small mindedness that is so often evident on Facebook, or the apparent neediness and self validation that is constantly sought by some people via Twitter.

I wonder; is 'la vida low-fi' really an option for me?

As is evident in the article, each of the women still have an agreed level of dispensation or requirement for certain elements of the hi-fi lifestyle. I imagine that there will always be an element of them risking being left behind completely without at least acknowledging the presence of social media based interaction. In the same way, I am aware that I will always have a need to use email, Facebook and Twitter. After all I have a business that would be practically impossible to run without them, but for personal use...

I guess we'll see. And with that I bid you a'dieu.

mwah x

Reduce, reuse, recycle

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Patterson) — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 18:10:00 +0000

Alison Sye - The Up-Cyclist.

Those of you that know me, will know that I have a taste for some of the finer things in life.

However, over the past few years, circumstances beyond our control have seen myself and Hubby having to curb our spending. No; let me re-phrase that; circumstances beyond our control have seen myself and Hubby needing to curb our thoughtless overspending.

It's where the re-aligned and often thrifty nature of this blog originates from and it is why my rejuvenated sense of nostalgia and the less wasteful ways of my childhood have re-appeared.

I love nothing more these days than a rumble through a curio or thrift store...and if I pay for that rumbling from my £200 Paul Smith wallet, then so be it. It does not make me a bad person, or a person not committed to saving money, reducing waste and improving the environment. It makes me a person who occasionally splurges because all other bills are paid and I worked hard to pay them. So shoot me!

Anyway, I digress.

My melancholia of all things frugal and self sustainable lead me to search for like minded people via Google, Facebook, blogs and Twitter...and boy did I find some fabulous frugalistas out there, who, like me, simply wanted to live a simpler life, with no need for constant bells and whistles, but a need to know that they were doing their little bit; both for the environment and for their own finances.

So I got in touch with a few of my favourites and asked them if they'd be happy to share what they do with you. I really hope you enjoy reading what they had to say and seeing what they have to offer. Maybe they'll inspire you like they do me.

Meet Alison Sye, The Up-Cyclist and self confessed Womble:

What is Up-Cyclist all about?

Resuscitating rubbish. I like to take something that has already had a life and give it a new one. At the moment I am making greetings cards from old books and cereal boxes. I absolutely never cut up healthy books or clothes, nor do I clean up any blemishes left by life. Kind friends save food packaging for me and the books I use have been 'retired' from local schools and libraries after years of loyal service.

Hand-crafted postcard.

When did you start?

I have created something new from something old for as long as I can remember. When I was a teenager I used to make my own clothes and jewellery because I couldn't afford to buy the clothes I wanted. Everyone was doing it in the eighties, it wasn't unusual. The most creative people are always the ones without money.

Where do you get your inspiration?

My parents and grandparents were upcycling before it had a name. My dad once made a shed from garage doors that someone had left lying around, it was brilliant. I have seen similar things displayed at The Hayward Gallery, and I'm not joking. When you are young you are learning things constantly without realising. I can't walk down a street without picking up something useful like my dad used to do, my nine year old daughter does it too. I love it when I find some moth-eaten, food stained, beautifully embroidered table-cloth in a charity shop. I feel sad for the nameless crafter and must buy it. I bring it home and give it the respect it deserves. At some point, maybe that day, maybe twenty years later, it will be made into something new and hopefully take pride of place in someone's home. Everything I make already comes with its own secret history. I find it very gratifying to make a card from a cereal box, but even more so when that cereal box has a half-completed puzzle on the back.

Baby Shoes: exquisite stitching.

Is this your full-time job?

I wish! I have two other jobs.

What type of person do you think buys your creations?

People who want something unique, a one-off piece which nobody else will have. People who like the idea of buying something with a story to tell.

Customised 'patchwork'

Do/Can you offer customised items?

Yes, I make 'patchworks' (see image) from sentimental scraps given to me by customers. Although, they must be genuine mementos and fabrics. I was making a commissioned card once and the customer started printing things especially for the piece. This totally goes against the grain of what I do.

Any Christmas Related Goods you would like to showcase?

Under my bed, as we speak, is a huge box of used christmas wrapping paper. I intend to make something with it, not sure what yet.

Rudolph the recycled reindeer.

What do you think distinguishes you from other artists/crafters out there?

My background is in fine art, and I have always used old photos, found objects etc. in my artwork. The cards I am doing now draw upon the unique style that I have developed over the years.

Any long term goal?

I would love to have my own space in which to work. At the moment I am quite literally at the kitchen table. I can never find anything when I need it, I have boxes of 'finds' all over the house.

Please follow the links and give Alison the love she deserves on Facebook and Twitter.

Now go, get creative!

mwah x

Blinkbox

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Patterson) — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 15:05:00 +0000

Several years ago I spent time living in New York City. For the last 18 months I have been living in the Suffolk countryside. If ever there were two places that were polar opposites, these are them.

I have gone from a landscape rich in high rise buildings, activity and entertainment options, to a landscape rich in green fields and birdsong, with only the village pub for entertainment. Do not get me wrong, I am not bemoaning that fact; for whilst I love the hustle and bustle of city life, I am (now) just as happy wandering through the fields in my wellies.

However, there comes a time when you want to be spontaneous. You want to see a movie without it involving a military style operation and a 50 mile round trip to the nearest multiplex cinema or the nearest dvd rental store. With that in mind I got excited when the concept of 'Netflix' arrived in our midst. That said, I soon lost interest when I realised I was paying for a subscription that didn't enable me to access the most up to date titles and new releases as soon as I would have liked to.

Well, I have found the solution... drum roll please...

Ladies and gentlemen I give you Blinkbox; your opportunity to buy or just watch movies online without the need for a subscription and with access to a huge back catalogue and the latest releases.

For the sake of my integrity, I do need to let you know that I received a couple of free voucher codes in order to be able to review their service on your behalf, but as regular readers will know, I will always tell you if 'your bum looks big' in something, so I would quite happily tell you if your movie streaming service was no good. On this occasion, I'm happy to say that that couldn't be further from the truth!

It really couldn't have been easier.

Hubby - in his role as resident 'Entertainments Manager' - hooked the laptop to the tv, visited the website, completed a simple registration process and then downloaded the movie. There was no need for a registration rigmarole involving inside leg measurements and blood groups; the answers to a couple of simple questions sufficed.

It is worth mentioning that you have to wait for the movie to download; it is a not a live streaming service. (To give you an idea of download times, the first movie we watched took approx 15 minutes on a new ultrabook, the second took a little while longer on an older laptop.) The benefit of downloading in this way is that you have up to 48 hours in which to watch, pause, re-start, watch again - great for those of us with weak bladders or who need our drinks re-filling!

The hardest part of the entire process was deciding on which films to watch because Hubby and I have decidedly different tastes. He likes a clear beginning, middle, end and a bit of escapism, whilst I like plot twists and turns and to think about what I'm watching. Like I said, they have a great back catalogue, but as lots of the older movies are free - yes, free - we went for some newer releases to make use of the voucher codes, eventually settling on Marvel Avengers Assemble - slow to start, but action packed once it got going - and Dark Shadows - all the gothic comedy and weirdness you would expect from a Tim Burton movie. Even without the voucher codes, the majority of available movies were no more than £3.49 each.

There's not much else to say really, other than finally our need for military planning; making sure the car has enough diesel in it for the trip, ensuring we have flashlights, blankets and a shovel to deal with the country roads in the worsening winter weather is now over. (Ok, maybe I am being a bit over-dramatic about the weather, but you get my point.)

The problem is there is one voucher code left to use and we just can't agree what to watch, so it's over to you. What movie past or present do you recommend and why?

mwah x

Life after Toby

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Patterson) — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 18:30:00 +0000

Many of you may know that a few weeks ago we (Hubby and I.) lost our beloved dog - and valued family member - Toby.

Since then, the world seems to have been split into two groups of people: Those who offer condolence and then expect us to move on and wonder why we're still upset and those who offer genuine thoughtful insight and a shoulder to cry on because either; they've been there, or they currently have animal family members who mean the world to them.

Tomorrow marks just three weeks since his quick and unexpected passing.

He had been receiving treatment from the vet as they thought he may have had a bad ear infection and pancreatitis which was making him grumpy. As it turned out, his grumpiness and what we thought to be pain induced mad outbursts and occasional strange movements as he walked, were actually seizures and the resultant brain damage caused by them.

Now I had hoped that writing this post would be somewhat cathartic for me, but I can actually barely see the keyboard through the tears. As I read what I have written, I find myself wondering why I hadn't 'joined up the dots' sooner and realised that there was something more serious wrong.

On that fateful morning as we arrived at the vets for further tests to be carried out, neither myself nor Hubby could ever have imagined that just a few hours later we would have to make what is so far the hardest decision of our lives; to have Toby put to sleep.

The brain tumour was inoperable. Due to the increased frequency of the seizures and ever more obvious damage they were causing to his motor skills, not to mention the pain from his badly inflamed ear canals and the pressure of the tumour behind his eyes, the vet advised us that we needed to make a decision 'sooner rather than later.' Those words still resound in my ears; 'sooner rather than later.' Within hours he was asleep.

He was calm. He was snuggled on Hubby's lap and he looked to be at peace. As he slipped away from us our lives changed forever.

The house is now still. We miss the movement.
The routines we knew and loved have gone. We miss the old routines.

The most unusual of actions remind you suddenly that Tobes is no longer around. I know that when I turn of my laptop after writing this post, he will not recognise the noise, come put his head on my lap and demand a walk. I know also that when Hubby leaves for work early in the morning, that he will not bound up the stairs and snuggle next to me on the bed with a look that says 'Don't tell Dad I slavered on his pillow.' I am no longer sure what to do with my apple cores, as Tobes isn't around to eat them and I have a hole in the lining of my slippers that I now feel bad about as I shouted at him for chewing them.

I know that the pain will ease given time and I know that the memories of him will become a comfort and yes, I am aware that he was only a dog. But he was our dog and this is our life to now re-build.

I just hope that he is now somewhere he loves; chasing seagulls and rabbits and eating gravy bones all day long.

mwah x

Self neglect & an overuse of exclamation marks!!

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Patterson) — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 12:18:00 +0000

Oh my it's been weeks since my last post! July seems like such a long time ago, yet I also find myself wondering where the time has gone?

July and then August symbolised two months of neglect; of my blog, of myself and of everything else around me unless it involved hosting the multitude of guests that arrived at 'The Nook' for summer season.

You see, it would appear that our new (18 months later, am I still allowed to refer to it as new?) life in the glorious Suffolk countryside + the summer season = free B & B to everyone we have ever known!

Now don't get me wrong; whilst I may not be the type of sociable that sees me out on the tiles every Friday and Saturday night - Let's face it, there is actually very little option for that in the local area anyway! - I am the type of sociable that loves having people over, setting the world to rights over a bottle (or two) of vino, firing up the BBQ and pottering about in the kitchen ensuring everyone is suitably fed and watered.

Open for Summer season!

It's just that next year I need to remember to spread out the sociable! (Note to self: Such concentrated socialising really doesn't mix well with running your own business from home.)

Just two days free of house guests! I repeat - just two days to myself! - during the 6 week period from mid July to the end of August. (And let me tell you, I make no excuses for the overuse of exclamation marks up to this point because that is the only punctuation mark that allows me to fully explain my currently exhausted state!)

Still, there is now have light at the end of the tunnel. Just one more visit (And it's a good one!) left before I shut up shop, batten down the hatches, close for summer season, refuse to accept any more bookings and return to my usual anti-social self...well, until the next request for a long weekend stay at least.

Please, someone put in a request for a long weekend....or it's going to seem like a really long time until Christmas!

mwah x

Moody Cow!

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Patterson) — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 13:27:00 +0000

This morning I was told that I should smile considerably less than I currently do.

The reason?

Far too many age-ing lines appear around my eyes when I smile.

You have been warned.

A moody, but eternally youthful Lucy, lies ahead.

mwah x

Chaos in Motion

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Patterson) — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 15:34:00 +0000

I can't believe it's been a week since my last post!

This has been a crazy week, with today being the first day I've had to actually breathe...or so it feels.

As you know if you read my last post I am more than capable of travelling light, which came in handy this week as I headed into London to take part in a special social enterprise version of Dragons Den for my business; Jigsaw Care Services.

You may remember me procrastinating about compiling the presentation for the early stages of this event a couple of weeks ago. Well, you'll be pleased to know (Or more to the point, I haven't tired of telling people yet!) that we won!

An evening of celebrating and 'hob-nobbing' followed and we now have some great new working partnerships under development, which will hopefully come to fruition in the next few months. You can be sure that I'll keep you updated - whether you want to hear about them or not! ;-)

Bubbles were free flowing that night. Indeed, celebrations have continued since, so please accept my humblest apologies for any typos within this post as it is fair to say that my head is still somewhat fuzzy.

But I digress. The most important celebration of the week belongs to these:

Our first home grown baby carrots of the season.
Not bad considering all of this years seeds were freebies!
And very tasty they were too.

mwah x

Travelling light

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Patterson) — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 14:43:00 +0000

I've done a lot of travel over the years, though not as much in the last couple as I would have liked. (Unless you count relocating from one end of the UK to the other?)

Be it for business or pleasure, I've seen some awesome sights and lugged my bag through any number of 'exotic' airports. Believe me when I tell you that you will only struggle to carry your bag on a few occasions before you learn to travel light.

My top tips:

Take clothes that roll up easily with minimal creasing.

Stick to a neutral colour pallette to allow you to mix and match.

Add in some bright (but not expensive) accessories to really jazz up those neutrals.

Before you go, stock up on sample of your favourite cosmetics. These are light and can be used once or twice then thrown away. Best of all, they are usually free. You just have to be cheeky enough to ask at the make up counter or google-savvy enough to hunt them down on the internet.

I always have a stock in because you never know when you may be whisked away on that romantic weekend by your other half... (Insert day-dreamy expression here)

Never take full size bottles of shampoo/shower gel etc. Never buy a set of re-fillable travel size bottles and never buy branded travel sizes more than once. (I don't buy them at all, I simply save the inevitable trial sizes you receive in gift packs at Christmas.)
The trick is to buy travel sizes that you can refill and re-use time after time - ie the brands with screw top lids, rather than flip top lids. (Screw tops are also less likely to leak, so that's a bonus.) Fill them with your usual product and away you go.

Finally, if you're travelling with friends, arrange your packing so you only take one of each necessary electrical item between you; hairdryer, straighteners etc. You'll be amazed how easy it is to then schedule use of these items between you...it's even better if you share a cocktail or two whilst waiting for your turn!

Happy travelling.

mwah x

Rules for sewing.

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Patterson) — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 17:18:00 +0000

A fabulous fellow Tweeter - whom I have never met, though am sure that if we did meet, we'd have a whole heap of stuff in common and would chat for hours - sent me this after reading my recent post about finding a 1974 Singer sewing machine.

I just know that so many of you will appreciate it, that I had to share it with you!

What do you think of these rules?
I may never be able to sew again.

mwah x

Procrastination

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Patterson) — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 11:30:00 +0000

I am a procrastinator.

I procrastinate.

So sue me.

At this moment I have chosen to blog in place of finalising (For finalising, read starting.) an important presentation I need for tomorrow.

I am told by Freud that my procrastination is related to the pleasure principal; that I am staving off this stressful task until a later time, which makes me happy. I am told by Hubby however, that my procrastination will not make me happy. It certainly doesn't make him happy. Hubby who completes tasks the moment a task is set. Hubby who is always early, for everything.

'Are you finally doing that presentation?' he asks as I tap at the keyboard.
'Yes.' I answer. (Without looking him in the eye, as I am obviously lying.)
'Show me the screen.'

Crap. I've been foiled again.

I do however have a pattern to my procrastination. I am, if you will, an efficient procrastinator. Procrastination is actually an art form I have honed over the years that really does see me accomplish everything I need to - and more! I will always be motivated to do important tasks - albeit at last minute - as there will always be something more urgent that comes along for me to avoid.

The trick to efficient procrastination is to ensure that the tasks are at the top of your to-do list change constantly; that there is always a task more important to shift to the top of your list. Right, I have a pile of ironing to get through, so I'm off to do this presentation I need for tomorrow - I may have mentioned it previously?

mwah x

Fabulous Free day - literally!

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Patterson) — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 14:24:00 +0000

I've been crazy busy with that ubiquitous thing we call work lately. Haven't we all?

I've got a presentation to prep for an exciting social enterprise based version of Dragon's Den.
I've got a presentation to prep for an interview for some great consultancy work that I hope to win.
I've got business plans, marketing strategies and routes to market galore, in mid flow for a few new clients that I've taken on as part of my enterprise coaching role.
I've had a few articles to pen for the magazines I often write for.

The list is not endless, but it is starting to get a bit chaotic amidst the pages of my diary.

This is why, last Sunday, Hubby insisted I put down my Blackberry, step away from my laptop and enjoy a day out on one of his 'Magical Mystery Tours'. In other words, I had to relinquish all control and not worry about anything work related.

Which can only lead to another type of worry:

It's still a while till payday. How much will it cost?
Not a penny, he promised me.
Where will we end up?
He didn't know.
What footwear will be most appropriate?
I'm wearing my trainers, he informed me.
Will it rain?
It's June in England, so probably, he retorted.
What should I wear?
I'm wearing this, he replied. (Helpful as ever.)
What time will we be back?
In time to feed the dog his tea, he assured me.
Will the dog be ok without us?
He's already sat by his treat tin waiting for us to feed him then leave, he observed!

(You must appreciate by now, the level of anxiety Hubby was dealing with here.)

And so we were off.

Stop one was a pretty little village where we had a wander around the beautiful gardens that were open that weekend in aid of charity.

It wasn't in France (Or we'd not have been back in time to feed the dog.) but it was twinned with Pouzauges and had curious little French road signs dotted about the place.

Due to the open gardens, there was also a local historian wandering around making a film of the proceedings and interviewing people about the village.

He stopped Hubby and asked if he could take a photo of him to 'inject a bit of humour' into the film. (I assume he was meaning due to his slogan t-shirt, rather than simply because he looks odd, but I didn't ask just in case Hubby didn't like the answer!)

We continued around the village and came across an art exhibition in the local hall. (Ok, so it was the local art society hocking their wares, rather than anything spectacular enough for the Tate Modern, but there was some lovely sketches and watercolours to be appreciated.)

Next stop was the side of a road. I know. I was also a bit perplexed as Hubby simply stopped the car and hopped out, shouting at me to join him. 'You can't just stop the car there! What if someone comes behind you? The road is not wide enough for them to pass us!' I hollered at him, without so much of a hope in hell of him caring.

There, set back on he side of the road was an old cottage; outside of which was a sign; 'Free to a good home.'

We had a peruse through the books and curiosities piled high in boxes outside the cottage and he selected this one, as he knew I had been waiting for it to be 'on offer' in Waterstones.

I don't know why, but I felt as though I should be donating something and began searching for an honesty box to leave at least a few pennies in. (As much of a bargain hunter as I am these days, I think I still struggle with the concept of 'free'. Or more to the point the concept of 'free, with no strings attached.')

No. There were definitely free. Gratis. (Though there was of course the pressure of proving I had a good home in which to store anything we took.)

It was then that Hubby spotted a large, coloured with age, plastic box.

I am informed by Hubby (so who knows how reliable the information is.) that it was at this point that I actually squeeled with delight, when he opened it to reveal a 1974 Singer sewing machine, complete with accessories, manual, foot pedal et al.

He picked it up and popped it into the boot of the car before I had time to question it. At which point another car came down the lane (Didn't I tell him that would happen?) so we had to hop back in the car and continue on our way.

You can I'm sure, imagine the conversation that was taking place between us at this point. Him assuring me that the sign definitely did say 'free' and me wanting to go back, knock on the door and offer at least a thank you for what we had taken.

In order to calm me down, our next stop was at a coffee shop. Not the usual twee village tearoom that we prefer to frequent when out and about, (They make the best people watching locations.) but Costa.

It was here that, true to his word, he didn't spend a penny, as he 'bought' us coffees and muffins for free. (The benefit of collecting loyalty points in some stores should never be overlooked...especially not when collection of said points includes free caffeine.)

And so we headed home.
Me; suitably refreshed and chilled.
Him; suitably stressed out by me and with the task of servicing my 'new' sewing machine.

You'll be pleased to know that he did servcie it and it now works perfectly.

To whomever lives in the cottage down the lane, please accept this post as my expression of thanks.

mwah x

Beautiful

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Patterson) — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 10:23:00 +0000

Not sure who to credit for this photo, but it spoke to me, so I had to share it.

mwah x

Every home should have one!

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Patterson) — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Since the vintage wardrobe find a few weeks ago, I've found a renewed vigour for hunting down the bargains and unearthing the curiosities in our local (I use the term 'local' loosely as we're miles from anywhere!) charity shops, antiques fairs and auction houses. There have been some good, bad and ugly things to ponder, but of them all this is my favourite:

Yes, you read it correctly; it says 'egg preserving pail'. And no, I'm not sure what it would have been used for back in the day - other than for preserving eggs (??) of course, but it is now home to my potatoes and eggs - well I couldn't NOT use it for eggs, could I?

This week's eggs from the farm at the end of the road:

It may seem like a random photo to blog, but whenever we collect them from the farm on a tray like this, we pick from the misfits - The ones the supermarkets won't buy from the farmer because they are not 'standard'. Seems to me that a tray of eggs is a good analogy for society; a variety of shapes, sizes, colours and the occasional 'odd one out'.

Misfits of the world unite!

mwah x

Just what the doctor ordered!

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Patterson) — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 13:54:00 +0000

The weather in early May matched my mood; damp, dull, grey and wet. There were tears, tiaras and tantrums as things beyond my control slowly seemed to swamp me. I think there was even a point in May when Hubby wished the hosepipe ban could also be applied to my tear ducts! (I blame the hormones.)

Well, the weather may not have improved but you'll be pleased to hear that my mood has.

I often feel a bit isolated and lonely since we moved to Suffolk. That's not to say I don't get out and about, or that I haven't met some lovely new people, because I have. It's just that it takes time to build up the type of relationships that you have with your Mum or your 'bestie'. It's those relationships that I miss the most.

Hubby's great and I wouldn't be without him for the world, but he's out at work all day and I work from home, so it's just me and the doggle a lot of the time. Don't get me wrong I love my doggle to bits, but there are days when even he gets sick of listening to me...leaving me talking mainly to myself and the odd telemarketer. (You know you're missing 'human interaction' when said telemarketer actually recommends you register for the telephone preference service which disallows them from cold calling you in the future!)

Anyway, I digress. The latter part of May was fun. Just like the old days and just what the doctor ordered.

I spent time with my 'bestie' in Landan Tawn, where we drank cocktails, threw our knickers at Barry Manilow and got generally giddy - resulting in shin splints, broken legs and blisters galore!

I became an Auntie for the second time when my ickle (but way bigger than me) brother became a Daddy.

We held our annual Eurovision clarty cocktail party. Always messy. Nuff said.

Finally, my lovely Mum came for a visit over the Jubilee weekend. Always a pleasure and a realisation that no matter how old you are, your Mum can always make things seem better.

Today the house is silent again. Mum has gone home. I have an email inbox exploding at the seams. Hubby is back at work after the long weekend and the doggle has reverted to ignoring me again. Thing is, I feel so re-invigorated, that I just don't care.


Tobes perfecting his 'I'm ignoring you' stare!

Bring on the Summer!

mwah x

Landan Tarn

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Patterson) — Sun, 20 May 2012 18:05:00 +0000

Can you tell who it is yet?

After spending 3 days in Landan Tarn with my bestie, including a night at The O2 with this legend, caffeine was certainly a 'must-have' the next day.

Yes, it's me enjoying my morning coffee with/as Barry Manilow.

You got me, I'm a Fanilow.

mwah x

Vintage Wardrobe Find

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Patterson) — Sun, 06 May 2012 17:03:00 +0000

Is it wrong to be this excited about a wardrobe?!

Ok, so you may be reading this thinking I'm just a little bit crazy, but ever since we moved into our new home four months ago (Crikey - how time flies!), I've refused to go out and buy into the flat pack phenomenon. I have had extra rooms to furnish, but throw-away furniture is not really my thing, so I've held off buying in hope of finding items that are 'just right'.

I like solid pieces, investments that you know will stay with you for years and tell the story of your life when you finally have to let them go. If they already have a story to tell, then that's even better. So imagine my delight when I found this ah-mah-zing wardrobe nestled un-assumingly in the corner of a local charity furniture store.

Don't you just love it?

It's made out of beech and has a gorgeous golden glow. In my opinion it just exudes character. But wait - it gets better. I am in love with the handles; burnished brass made to look just like old style curtain tie-backs. I'm sure given time I'll even find some 'real' tie-backs to hang over them and really show them off in style.


I love these handles!

And now for the best bit: Hiding inside the door on the right hand side is a series of shelves; all tagged with the items that should be stored in/on them.

I like to think that it was previously owned by a very regimented elderly gentleman, with much better organisation than me! I currently have some of my bags on the 'underwear' shelf, so please, if anyone knew the previous owner, don't tell him. I'd hate to disappoint.

mwah x

Breaking the Hiatus

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Patterson) — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:03:00 +0000

Hellooo....

Is there still any body out there?

It's been a trying 6 weeks or so, resulting in a blog free time for me; which for once was not self imposed writers block. Here is not the place to go into details, but needless to say some events in life leave you reeling and questioning more than just the usual 'Does my bum look big in this?' type questions.

The break has done me the world of good though. Despite the awful circumstances leading to this point, I have found a new zest for life and fully intend to not waste another moment dwelling too much on the 'ifs' and 'buts' and I implore you to do the same. (It appears that this new zest also includes a particularly bossy side!)

Life is short and you never know when it can be cruelly snatched from you. As the saying goes; "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Well I say; "Sod the lemonade. Slice those lemons, crush some ice and add some vodka." Chin! Chin!

The hiatus is officially broken. I'm back and I have so much to share with you guys.

You can hardly wait, can you?! ;-)

mwah x

Dedicated to a guy with a cracking zest for life. x

Tell me about yourself...

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Patterson) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:12:00 +0000

So here I am playing blogging catch up, when I suddenly realise that I have been nominated for two awards by the gorgeous Janine, over at Reflections From A Redhead

It seems that there are rules to be followed both when accepting the award and then when nominating and sharing the award with other bloggers.

Rules for the 'Tell me About Yourself' Award:

Share 7 random facts about yourself.
Share the award with 15 other bloggers.

The Rules for the 7 Link Challenge:

Provide 7 links for the provided categories.
Nominate 5 bloggers.

As per some of my previous posts you will know that I hate awards like this. Not because I am ungrateful and not because I don't know of 100's of other worthy recipients out there in the blogosphere, but simply because it is so hard to choose who to nominate - and I always worry about offending those who I forget to mention. So for the purpose of this award, I will nominate the people who have written the most recent 5 posts of the blogs I read on a regular basis.

And so to the challenge:

7 random facts about me -

I have just finished reading 'The Imperfectionists' by Tom Rachman. For any of you interested in how the lives of several strangers inter-weave with each other behind the doors of an international newspaper, this is the book for you.

I have recently had a fringe cut into my hair and now worry that I look as though someone has simply upturned a bowl on my head and cut around it with blunt scissors.

My guilty pleasure on the TV is 'Real Housewives of Orange County' - Sorry. I have nothing more to say about that.

I have two pebbles that I have kept since the first holiday Hubby and I ever spent together in Cornwall. One is shaped like a heart and the other like a glass of guinness. Hubby found them and presented them to me whilst we were walking on a beach one day. I often wonder whether other people 'see' the same shapes as I do when I look at them.

I love to travel, yet am always pleased to return home again.

Having recently completed a frugal February challenge, I learned a lot about how I spend my money and the elements of my life that were un-necessarily wasteful. I am now committed to the motto 'reduce, re-use, recycle' in every element of my life. I feel more fulfilled already, as I no longer struggle with my conscience.

I truly believe that if life throws you lemons, you have to get on and make lemonade, because bubbles make everything better :-)

My 7 links -

Most beautiful post: A simple photo of the dog on the beach.

Most popular post: All about the launch of my social enterprise

Post I am most proud of: My story in my own words.

Post that most surprised me with it's success: Any of the 'Choose Day Choon' series.

Most controversial post: Can money really buy you happiness?

Most helpful post: This could be any of the frugal February posts as I learnt so much about myself whilst completing the challenge.

Post I didn't feel got the attention it deserved: It feels wrong to pick a post for this category, but here it is!

And now here's to my nominated bloggers by most recent posts -

Our New Life in the Country

English Muse

A Thrifty Mrs.

Domestic Sluttery

Slink Magazine

Enjoy!

mwah x

The Silver Lining...

noreply@blogger.com (Lucy Patterson) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:06:00 +0000

When I started writing this blog I hoped that it would acknowledge the highs and lows in my life; mainly because I expected there to be only me who ever read it. Because of that, it has always been somewhat autobiographical, never 'specialist' and generally an online diary of my thoughts, feelings and experiences. However, never did I expect the rollercoaster of life to make me so sick of the highs and lows that I'd want to get off!

Now nobody panic, I am not announcing my intention to shuffle off this mortal plain, merely my need for a bit of stability amidst the chaos. My blog has always been my outlet, my personal therapist if you please. Yet when times get tough, it is inevitably the first thing to suffer. I mean after all, who has time to sit on their therapist's couch and moan for an hour whilst things beyond their control come crashing down around them? As a control freak, I can tell you that my life is not the best place to be right now and unfortunately no end of 'to-do' or 'to-do later' lists are helping the cause.

I like to think - though feel free to interject if you think differently - that I am a fairly positive person. I try not to let things get me down. I like to look at the bigger picture and I always search for the silver lining in order to maintain perspective of a situation. But this last few weeks that picture has been getting smaller and that lining is fading to grey.

You see, I can cope with Hubby being made redundant. We've been through that before and come out stronger as a couple. And I can cope with our 'new life' being so far away from family and friends. In actual fact, the distance has helped to clarify who our real friends are and which family members we can really on. And I can cope with the fact that our 'new life' may not have yet turned out the way we had planned. Who ever wrote a plan that they then stuck to anyway? But what I have struggled with these last few weeks is the fact that my Gran is seriously ill and I am too far away to be of any productive help to either her or my Mum and Grandad.

My life seems to happen in snippets. Little excerpts, if you will, of the everyday necessities of home, work, dog, college, wrapped around phone calls and trips between North and South, to spend as much time with my family as possible before the inevitable happens. For at 92 years old, I am aware - as is my Gran (and I think that is the saddest part) - that the inevitable has to happen.

Her deteriorating health; heart failure and kidney failure, is hard to watch, so I cannot comprehend what she must be thinking because she is still fully 'compus mentus' and trying to communicate, albeit through somewhat slurred speech and a series of '20 questions' style situations. It is the wishes of her and my Grandad not to be hospitalised, so the Doctor is making her as comfortable as possible at home, with a variety of adaptations, medication, oxygen, inhalers and a concoction of pain relief.

Seeing her at home in this way is tough, not least because the majority of my happy childhood memories are linked to the same house and room that she will eventually take her last breaths in. Selfish, but true.

I cannot type much more, for I am struggling to see through the tears, but needless to say this matriarch has been one of the biggest influences upon my life. She has been pivotal in shaping me in to the person I have become today. She has shown me that it is always possible to carry on when times are tough; that there is a silver lining, no matter how hard you have to look to find it. Only now do I realise that the words I am typing are as true of my Mum as they are of my Gran. So there it is, I've found it, the silver lining; two amazingly strong and inspirational females and although one may leave my life soon, the other will be with me for years to come....as will the advice, guidance and memories.

Love you Gran. x
Tractorloads Mum. x